Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA Review

The Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA is comfortable from the first wear, with no break-in period, and completely waterproof, making it our Top Pick for the beach, pool, or any water-based activity. While the EVA material doesn't offer much breathability and isn't as durable as leather, it's a fun and practical way to experience the feel of a traditional Birkenstock footbed without spending a lot. These flip flops are very stylish and come in a wide variety of colors.

Comfort

The Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA is shaped just like the traditional Birkenstock Gizeh, but is made with an EVA material, rather than the traditional cork footbed. The arch support is just as good as the traditional Birkenstock arch, and the fit is the same. The material might even be more comfortable than the traditional Birkenstock because it doesn't require a break-in period before it becomes comfy. The EVA material is soft and comfortable right off the bat. The shoes are lightweight, and they stay on your feet well.

Our testers loved the fit of these flip flops right off the bat. The toe post didn't cause any hot spots, and the material felt soft and supportive under their feet. While walking through water, the Gizeh EVA absolutely shone, as the material is completely waterproof, making it a great water-friendly alternative to the traditional Birkenstock Gizeh.

The footbed has a nice contoured arch support that felt good under all our testers' feet, no matter how big or small their arch was. The footbed isn't quite as protective as we'd like, as we were able to feel some rocks and sticks through the bottom of it. Other than that, though, we were extremely happy with the comfort of these flip flops and could see ourselves wearing them day after day for a wide variety of activities.

Support

Our testers loved the arch support provided by the Gizeh EVA. The EVA material is squishy enough to be comfortable, but hard enough to still provide ample support to the foot. We were able to feel some rocks and sticks through the bottom of the footbed, but not to the point where we saw it as an issue. We put many miles on these shoes, and our feet were happy the entire time.

With the raised edges of the Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA, the sides of your feet will be protected from rocks, and your toes protected from getting stubbed. This is great while walking on dirt roads or hiking on mellow trails, but also created an issue when sand and small pieces of gravel got stuck in the shoe, and we weren't able to simply shake it out like you would with a normal flip flop without raised edges.

Traction

The Gizeh EVA had some of the best traction on wet river rocks of all the flip flops we tested. One of our testers wrote that she “felt confident walking around on submerged lake rocks. They are very grippy.” These flip flops also performed similarly well while walking up and down dirt hills with lots of loose gravel. They kept our testers well supported and provided them with the confidence needed to walk nearly anywhere they wanted to.

We found the footbed traction of the Gizeh EVA to be good, but not perfect. When the shoe was wet, our feet slid around a little bit, but because the flip flops have raised edges, it didn't become a problem. All in all, we were happy with the traction of these flip flops, both on the sole and on the footbed.

Style

Our testers agreed across the board that the Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA is very stylish. It has the same curvy appeal as the traditional Birkenstock Gizeh, while being offered in all sorts of fun colors. Some think the EVA look isn't quite as appealing as the cork footbed, but that opinion is still up for discussion.

While testing these flip flops, our testers wore them with all sorts of different outfits - from sporty gym 'fits, to cute dresses for a casual date night - and looked good in all of them. Many compliments were received, and we can only imagine receiving more if we had switched up the colors a bit.

Versatility

We found these flip flops to be quite versatile due to the ability to wear them in water or out, and with a wide variety of outfits. Our testers wore them hiking, to the beach, for dog walks, on date nights, and even out dancing. The EVA material is easy to clean if they get muddy, and they are lightweight enough to throw in your gym bag to wear post-workout.

Our testers raved about how great these flip flops were for wearing in water. They were the go-to choice for walking around on wet river rocks, swimming in alpine lakes, and just lounging on the beach. They also noted how easy it was to bring them on the water, as they would simply clip a carabiner to the straps and hook them to a boat or SUP without having to worry about losing them.

Should You Buy the Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA?

If you spend a lot of time around water and need a flip flop that can withstand being in and out of water all day, every day, this is the flip flop for you. It is light, comfortable, and waterproof. Not to mention, you can choose from a multitude of different fun colors.

What Other Flip Flops Should You Consider?

If you like the look of the Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA, but want something a bit more fashionable and you don't care about it being waterproof, check out the Birkenstock Gizeh. The Olukai Ohana is also a good choice if you want a waterproof option with a more traditional flip flop look.